During a broadcast of The 700 Club on the Christian Broadcasting Network, evangelist and television commentator Pat Robertson linked the 7.0 magnitude quake in Haiti to a pact with the devil.

"Something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it," Robertson said on the show. "They were under the heel of the French ... and they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, 'We will serve you if you'll get us free from the French.'

"True story. And the devil said, 'OK, it's a deal,' " Robertson said. "Ever since, they have been cursed by one thing after another." A link to an Associated Press video of the broadcast.

Later, in a statement in response to Robertson's comments, a CBN spokesman said he was referring to a slave rebellion that toppled colonists and ultimately resulted in independence.

"Dr. Robertson never stated that the earthquake was God’s wrath. If you watch the entire video segment, Dr. Robertson’s compassion for the people of Haiti is clear. He called for prayer for them," added Chris Roslan. "His humanitarian arm has been working to help thousands of people in Haiti over the last year, and they are currently launching a major relief and recovery effort to help the victims of this disaster." To read the full statement, click here.

During a broadcast of The 700 Club on the Christian Broadcasting Network, evangelist and television commentator Pat Robertson linked the 7.0 magnitude quake in Haiti to a pact with the devil.

"Something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it," Robertson said on the show. "They were under the heel of the French ... and they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, 'We will serve you if you'll get us free from the French.'

"True story. And the devil said, 'OK, it's a deal,' " Robertson said. "Ever since, they have been cursed by one thing after another." A link to an Associated Press video of the broadcast.

Later, in a statement in response to Robertson's comments, a CBN spokesman said he was referring to a slave rebellion that toppled colonists and ultimately resulted in independence.

"Dr. Robertson never stated that the earthquake was God’s wrath. If you watch the entire video segment, Dr. Robertson’s compassion for the people of Haiti is clear. He called for prayer for them," added Chris Roslan. "His humanitarian arm has been working to help thousands of people in Haiti over the last year, and they are currently launching a major relief and recovery effort to help the victims of this disaster." To read the full statement, click here.

Later, in a statement in response to Robertson's comments, a CBN spokesman said he was referring to a slave rebellion that toppled colonists and ultimately resulted in independence.

I suppose it is possible that Robertson really does think that he is interpreting the Haitian Revolution from a biblical perspective -- for instance, from Paul's in Romans 13:1-2 ("Let every person be subordinate to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been established by God. Therefore, whoever resists authority opposes what God has appointed, and those who oppose it will bring judgment upon themselves" NAB), but those of us who view history as a secular (and even atheistic) cause-and-effect process rather than the fulfillment of prophecy can and do reject his biblical interpretation of events as stupid, assine, and worthless.

If one wants to view the Haitian Revolution as the people making a pact with the devil, then one could also say the same thing about the American Colonies rebelling against England and its Christian king who ruled by Divine Right.

Brother Pat, I gather, finds slavery okay (It's approved in the New Testament, after all: Onesimus, the slave, is sent back by St-Paul to his owner, Philemon, e.g.). What intrigued me more, however, was the suggestion implicit in Robertson's "opinion" that the French had God going for 'em: I mean, conservatives have despised the French for opposing the Iraq war (Think: "liberty cabbage" in 1917 and now "freedom fries" in 2003.) and having a socialist, godless, health system, and now Pat puts le voo-doo on the side of African slaves and Mr Devil, and God on the side of the French.

Now that seems to be a sign of the End: Brother Pat siding with the French.

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"Wesley told the early Methodists to gain all they could and save all they could so that they could give all they could. It means that I consider my money to belong to God and I see myself as one of the hungry people who needs to get fed with God’s money. If I really have put all my trust in Jesus Christ as savior and Lord, then nothing I have is really my own anymore."

I think Pat Robertson is an extremely dangerous man and his adherents who believe the hate that spills out of his mouth should be deprogrammed from the brainwashing that has obviously taken place of critical thinking. What's frightening is that people take him seriously.

I recognize that he doesn't speak for ALL Christians, only a small subset --- but he does make Christianity look pretty bad. Thanks to those Christians who have vocalized their extreme dissent from Pat's foaming little rants.

Pat's assumption that Haiti was founded by a pact with the devil must mean he doesn't approve of slaves revolting against their masters, hmm? Does he still adhere to the bible nonsense about slaves obeying their masters?

The only blessing in disguise that may come out of this is that perhaps, people will be so fed up with the hate he expresses, that they'll change the channel in greater numbers when his loathsome face pops up, ad revenues will go down and his show will be cancelled.

I would be interested to know if any advertisers have yanked their spots from his show, anyone?

Let me get this straight. A bunch of folks suffer a major calamity. People over the globe scramble to render aid, prayers, words of hope, etc. And hold their collective breath for any good news to come of this.

So this guy who has legions of fans? worshippers? or whatever, who dote on his every word and loads of money/resources that could make a difference in this situation, instead merely pronounces that the Haitian people are in some manner responsible for this tragedy? That they aligned themselves with the Devil. They did it to themselves.

Seems to me that if anyone is in league with the Devil, it’s Pat himself for uttering such hateful statements. I sure hope no one involved ever hears this horrible man’s horrible words. He is reprehensible.

Like to lock that man in a room with five minutes of air and let him pronounce until he expires.